Loadshedding Schedule EWN
EWN has multiple load shedding areas. Search for your suburb below to view your load shedding schedule:
The Struggle of Loadshedding in South Africa
Loadshedding is a controlled power outage that is implemented by Eskom, South Africa’s primary power supplier. It is done to avoid a total blackout in the country’s power supply system. As a result, Eskom created a schedule that categorises the areas into eight groups, and each group gets a specific time allocated for the planned power outages. However, these scheduled power outages have been problematic, causing major disruptions.
The Impact on Households
Loadshedding has caused distress to families in South Africa. Children who need to study for exams, pregnant women who require medical equipment and people who need to work from home have all been affected. Many people cannot keep their fridges running and are losing food due to power loss. It may seem like a small issue, but think about people who have food budgets and cannot keep restocking their fridges constantly.
The Impact on Businesses & the Economy
Businesses have been affected too. They have lost thousands of Rands due to the unscheduled power outages, which affects their production levels. Most businesses require electricity to operate; however, loadshedding has forced some businesses to shut down entirely. The knock-on effect of this is that it creates job losses and leads to an unstable economy. Investors become hesitant to invest in an environment where there is no stable power supply, and this impacts the economy drastically.
Why is Loadshedding Still Happening?
There is no simple answer to why we are still experiencing loadshedding.
One of the primary reasons is Eskom’s debt, which has now reached around R500 billion. This debt has resulted in Eskom being unable to maintain the power supply infrastructure over the years. As a result, the infrastructure has deteriorated, and now we are experiencing the consequences.
Another factor that contributes to the problem is that South Africa’s energy sector is, to a large extent, dependent on coal. Eskom generates 90% of South Africa’s electricity with coal, and their coal-fired power plants are now outdated, which makes it difficult to curb the problem.
What is Being Done to Solve the Problem?
The government is taking steps to invest in and promote the use of renewable energy. In 2020, the South African energy department announced that they would purchase an additional 11,800 MW of power through renewable power sources. South Africa’s renewable energy sector continues to grow and create jobs, which will lead to a sustainable economy.
In conclusion, loadshedding has become a nuisance for millions of South Africans. It affects everyone’s lives in one form or another. The responsibility now lies on the government to find a solution to this problem. It is comforting to know that the government is investing in renewable energy; however, we need to be informed on their progression. As a journalist, I will continue to follow this issue closely and provide frequent updates on loadshedding in South Africa.